I've been breastfeeding for 7 mths & for the past month or two my left breast hasn't been producing much milk?

Question

I used to alternate breasts every feeding, but I recently had to start feeding my daughter with the right breast almost every time. I don't understand why the left breast isn't producing as much milk. Is there anything I can do? It's really annoying being lopsided. I always have to use extra nursing pads to look normal. No smart remarks please. This is serious.

Answer 1

This happened to me too, same side as well. I tried pumping and nursing more from the one side, but nothing worked for me. I just mainly fed her with the one side. I just weaned her and everything looks normal now. Good luck.

Answer 2

Why do you feel that one side isn't producing as much? It's important to note that the feel of the breast, the behavior of your baby, the frequency of nursing, the sensation of let-down, or the amount you pump are not valid ways to determine if you have enough milk for your baby. (You should know that pumping is not a good indicator of supply because your baby is always going to be more efficient than any pump.)

Is your baby obviously favoring one side over the other, or are you choosing to put her on the right side more often? How does she act if you put her on the left side?

If you are constantly favoring the right breast over the left, then the right breast is going to keep making more than the left. It's all about supply and demand. If the left side never gets the signal to make milk because you are rarely ever nursing or pumping on that side, then are just contributing to the lopsidedness. You have to nurse on the left side to tell it to make milk.

Just like most people have one hand or one foot that is slightly larger than the other, it's normal to have one breast that is slightly larger as well.

If you really want to try to even things out, you need to change what you're doing and begin feedings on the LEFT side instead of on the right. (She'll nurse more vigorously on the side she gets first.) Nurse on the smaller side twice as often - but also don't neglect your right side because if you allow too much backup of milk in that breast then you may become vulnerable to plugged ducts and mastitis on the larger side. You can also pump the smaller side for 5 to 10 minutes after about half of your feedings to try to encourage it to produce more. Most mothers notice an "evening out" of some proportion within 3-5 days of doing these things.

Hope this helps some! Check out the links below as well!

Answer 3

Have the baby nurse on the left breast more often than the right. Use a pump on the left breast between feedings to help produce more milk.

Answer 4

That's normal I had this too, its because your lil one has more off of the right one it produces more milk, the more milk taken the more it makes. There was nothing I could do to make my daughter take the left one and eventually the milk dried up on the left side (after almost a year and a half) She must just be more comfortable on that side :) You can express from the left side just to make it a little more comfortable.

Answer 5

I know just what you are talking about...I have been breastfeeding my daughter since birth and she just turned 7 months old...and lately for no reason my right breast doesn't produce the same amount of milk...so my left breast is always way bigger...I don't know what causes it but I am going to call my doctor and find out...If I were you I would do the same..Good Luck.

Answer 6

First of all, congratulations on choosing what is the absolute best way to feed your baby!

Secondly, I can empathize with what is happening to you. My daughter preferred my left side over my right side, and by the time she was four months old, she was exclusively nursing on the left side. I let my right side dry up (on the advice of my midwife) and successfully nursed my daughter up until she was three years old.

So it is possible for you to keep nursing on one side. Just nurse exclusively, the left will dry out, and the right will produce as much milk as your baby demands/needs. As long as you nurse on demand, the lopsidedness will become less problematic. Also, she will be(or has already) starting solids, and this will help alleviate the heaviness of your right breast as the demand gets lighter and lighter.

Again, congratulations on your choice. Keep nursing, you and your little one will be glad you did! :)

Answer 7

Continue to feed your child on the left side as well as the right, remember the more that you feed on any one side the more milk you will produce. Try pumping on the left side to help increase your milk production and if that doesn't work, then maybe you should go to a lactation consultant at your local hospital or health department.

Answer 8

Breast produce milk based on how much they are used. try to let her nurse on your left breast first, then your right use both in one feeding if possible. also try using a breast pump on your left breast between feedings and your milk supply should increase.

Answer 9

Look You have to nures her on the breast that is not producing because you can get what is called mastidus. it is a infection of the milk glands and the only way to get rid of it is to have your baby nurse!! trust me the infection is painfull i had it and had to be on bedrest for a week and a half. not fun.. what you want to do is boost up on your calloies and start drinking herbal teas they are relaxing as well as good for the baby and your milk the one that I love to use is mothers milk tea and is not expensive, it will give you a boost of what you need to get milk production back up. the other thing is that relax the nursing is supose to be enjoyable and a bonding time for you and the baby. don't hassle with it. my son who i had in december was like that He only wanted to nurse off the right side , so I had to force him to nurse it was hard the first few times but after that and the tea I was able to nurse more. hearbal teas are real good.. red rasberry, camomeill, pepermint, Caffeen will too make milk production come to a halt, so if you like the occasional coke make sure it's a rootbeer or something without caffeen.

Answer 10

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. I am currently nursing my third baby and haven't had this problem before. My baby is almost 5 months and I have been trying to pump my left side but it isn't working yet. My baby just doesn't want to nurse on my left side for some reason. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone.

Answer 11

I'm going through this too. My right side just quit one day. My daughter has always preferred the left side (TV side!). If you really want to get the one side back, put her on the weak side first EVERY time and pump like a mad woman. You'll be so aggravated by the end you'll feel like Elsie the Cow, but you'll get it back. I just dried up the one side, since my daughter prefers bottles now anyway.